Wednesday, February 20, 2013
The county planning staff will make recommendations to the board about future bus rapid transit systems at the meeting on Thursday.
Discussion about the implementation of dedicated bus lanes or bus rapid transit systems in Montgomery County will continue at the Montgomery County Planning Board's next meeting, on Thursday, Feb. 21. The county planning staff will update the board on its recent work on the Countywide Transit Corridors Functional Master Plan. A public hearing for the plan will be held on May 2, according to a planning department briefing. The planning staff recommends that Maryland State Route 355 "is the best candidate for pursuing a high-quality BRT treatment to serve future planned growth," and that U.S. Route 29 "is the best candidate for implementing dedicated bus lanes in the near term," according to the briefing. There is a concern, however, that …
Sunday, January 27, 2013
A community meeting is set to detail plans to mark the former plantation home of Rev. Josiah Henson, whose story inspired "Uncle Tom's Cabin."
The Montgomery County Department of Parks will detail plans Feb. 4 to renovate North Bethesda's Josiah Henson Park, the former plantation where Josiah Henson lived and worked as a slave in the early to mid 1800s. Henson, who eventually escaped slavery, is credited as being the inspiration for Harriet Beecher Stowe’s landmark novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin. A facility plan is underway that would develop a museum at the site with interacive exhibits highlighting Henson's life. The proposed project would rehabilitate the existing historic Riley/Bolten House—which was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places—and an attached log kitchen. The Parks Deparment will host a community meeting where residents can view schematic designs for…
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Whether to reserve existing lanes for buses is among the issue for planners.
On Monday, Patch gave you a chance to “Speak Out” on bus rapid transit in Montgomery County. Meanwhile, County Executive Isiah Leggett told The Washington Examiner the proposed system is too expensive. Now, planners from the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission want to hear from you. Planners will present their preliminary plans for a BRT system on the county’s main roads and hear public input on the plan at three meetings around the county beginning Tuesday evening. One of the topics: Should existing travel lanes be used or are new lanes needed for the network of high-speed buses? Exhibits will be on display between 6:30 and 9 p.m., with a formal presentation at 7 p.m. each night as follows: Click here for more …
Monday, October 15, 2012
Visitors should take precautions with pets and the lake's fish, officials warn.
Montgomery Parks has a message for visitors to Rockville’s Lake Needwood: Don’t drink the water. (And don’t let your dog drink it either.) The message, posted on the parks department’s website, warns that an algae bloom has produced a toxic substance detected in the lake’s water. The blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, produces microcystin, which “can cause severe liver damage if ingested,” the message says. Swimming is prohibited at Lake Needwood. The boathouse closed for the season Sept. 18, but boating is still permitted through Dec. 15. The message cautions visitors to avoid contact with the water and not to allow pets—which are required to be leashed—to swim in the water. The message encourages “good hand cleaning …
Friday, October 5, 2012
Rockville plans to use infrared cameras to count the city's deer population.
Montgomery Parks will begin its deer management operations with managed hunts and park police sharpshooters at 25 parks around the county beginning Oct. 22, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission announced. The hunts will include specially trained Maryland-National Capital Park Police and pre-screened hunters selected by lottery. Managed hunts will continue through Jan. 26. Sharpshooting operations will be conducted when parks are closed during evening and overnight hours, from 5:30 p.m. to sunrise daily between Jan. 1 and March 31. County parks in and around Rockville will see deer management operations conducted by sharpshooters only—and no managed hunts. The affected Rockville-area parks are: Click here for a …
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
County residents spoke against a proposal by county planners that seeks to make approval for accessory apartments easier.
Montgomery County residents turned out in force at two public meetings on Monday to express concerns about a proposed rule change that would eliminate the special exception process for some accessory apartments, also known as “mother-in-law” apartments. The zoning text amendment proposed by Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission staff would allow by right “attached” accessory apartments of up to 1,200 square feet that are located in certain residential and agricultural zones, and “detached” accessory apartments in specific residential zones. (See the zoning text amendment draft online for more details.) Many residents objected, arguing that the special exception proceedings keep them informed and involved in the process. “…
Richard Tolbert
3:57 pm on Thursday, October 18, 2012
What about the water that is pumped from Lake Needwood and used at Needwood Golf Course? more ›